Man is in love, and loves what vanishes; what more is there to say?~W. B. YeatsThroughout our lives we repeatedly make attachments and lose them. We are taken with the rich color of leaves in the fall, but we know that this beauty will soon be replaced with stark, empty branches. We give ourselves to ca...

Hi everyone, I've been silent for a while and away from this board. Still going to meetings and working with my sponsor, but I'm finding that I've managed to jump off a cliff recently so wanted to come in and absorb and also reason things out. I was relating to Pinkchip in his post about needing to find the...

Hello everyone, So, my ex boyfriends ex wife called me today to tell me that he is getting engaged to his new girlfriend, whom he has only been dating for 5-6 months. A part of me was in shock since he claimed he'd never get married and wasn't interested in it EVER again. But, a part of me was grateful that...

The reading for Monday, 3/4, discusses the slogan think. The author says at first it was puzzling. But they heard a childs safety rule that said, stop, look, and listen. The author was able to see the similarity in the slogan and the safety rule: before you get into trouble, or say the wrong thing, b...

Good morning everyone: Todays reading is a look at the difference between feeling the need to be responsible (for everyone and everything) and the ability to respond appropriately given a situation. Like the writer, when first coming to meetings in the program I didnt feel that I could share anyth...

Hi Everyone, I have been mostly reading here recently and trying to gain clarity and wisdom concerning a job opportunity. I am now at the end of a very long process for a position in rehab. At first I felt very invested in securing this job but now I don't know how I feel. I love our program and living recove...

As we start the month of March, this daily reading addresses the pitfalls of seeking knowledge, waiting for insight as a way to avoid action, and trying to analyze alcoholism. Analyzing and insisting on answers could prevent us from accepting the reality of our situation and facing the fact that we m...

I've been trying to navigate co-parenting of one young child (7 years old), with her father (we're technically still married but separated 6 years ago), who, until last week, was actively drinking. I'm very adept at detachment with him, but as he has her almost 1/2 the time with no supervision, and sh...

Well, all is fairly well guys considering the big picture. The problem is, I often don't consider the big picture when I forget to work a program. That being said, I'm married now for over 4 years, with my husband for 8 years. We have a great life with 7 pets and this year I celebrated 10 years sober also...

The ODAT reading for today, February 26 speaks about the fact that at first many who reach out to alanon meetings are in impossible situations. We, in alanon refrain from giving advise as many are not able to take corrective action. The reading suggest that we make a simple statement that no on...

Tomorrow's reading talks about Step 3 - turning our will and life to the care of a Higher Power, and how it's an ongoing process. For many of us, we are willing to surrender the big issues - felt we had no other choice. Our best efforts had let us down and we clearly were powerless. As the writer progres...

Im struggling with maintaining my boundaries tonight. AH is drinking and as is my usual response these days, I chose to walk away and do my own thing. I was in bed watching tv when he came in and wanted to cuddle. I just couldnt do it. I didnt want to be close to him in that moment. So I started to get up to leave...

I feel at the end of my rope. My son is suffering our end of this disease, enmeshed with a friend who has an eating disorder. He is 18, not drivers license, won't do school work, won't help around the house, and spends all day either chatting with his friend, or watching YouTube. I'm about at the end of my pa...

In today's reading of Courage to Change, the author reminds us that we don't need to map out our perfect plan for recovery, our HP has already done that. All we need to do is ask for HP's guidance and for the willingness to follow that guidance today. The author also shares that there are things we can do t...

Hi everyone, I am married to a recovering alcoholic and one of the friends I have met through his circle of friends is a woman with whom I attended Al-Anon, shopped, did prep meals, all the fun BFF's do (which was a new thing for me as I have struggled with "normal" friendships). Fast forward to last month...

So if my son is suffering from the disease of alcoholism and hes still on the merrygoround where he think he just needs enough will power or self control. That his own power can help him and that he just needs to be strong enough. What do you say when you know that he needs to surrender all his own efforts and...

The reading for Monday, 2/25, speaks about how alcoholism teaches self-neglect. The author relates that even with a high fever, they went about their day as usual. In program they have learned that it is OK to give themself extra attention when sick, rest when tired, how to eat a balanced diet, and e...

I got married at the beginning of the year. I have truly broken free of the codependency & dysfunction of old I am living a decent life without the misery of old. However I have lost a 42 year old childhood friend due to overdosing this month, another close friend of mine was drunk and severely injure...

Good morning Everyone: Todays reading is about following the suggested guidelines , traditions and policies of the program. The writer describes the feeling when making a decision to follow the rules (in terms of driving and in traffic) or struggling with the idea of breaking the rules in order to...

I won't usually fool around on this board because what is done here is so very powerful and beautiful regarding our recovery however where I am and was raised we learn that everything has spirit and for me the Jade flower is evidence of the loving power of my HP and the Mo`o on the vine is also. Just reve...

Today I feel a little lost & confused. It is only about trying to communicate & not being to understand what people are saying. I have purposely not gotten on here. I guess I don't feel like I have anything to share. I am kind of frustrated though w/ my niece's over-protective nature w/ her 3 week...

I'm beginning to think that if I had to compare Al Anon to sports, it'd have to be a baseball game - but with the pitcher (my alcoholic \ addict loved one) ONLY throwing curve balls, and with each pitch (I'm in the batter's box) breaking a different way and almost impossible to hit ! I think I need to change...

Making decisions is the topic of today's reading. We can have trouble making decisions by having impossibly high standards, wanting a specific result, or wanting to know in advance all the possible consequences of a decision. Instead, we can ask for and look for help with our decision -- from our HP...

Good morning, MIP family! I have had the good fortune and feel very blessed to be able to vacation down in warm, sunny Florida. Escaping winter in the northeast for even a week is a nice reprieve. With that being said, it has been obvious to me that I need to rethink future vacation plans with my AH. It s...

Hi, I haven't been here lately. So my daughter lives in town now so the problems are clearly visable. She can not function. She can not work and she can not keep from getting in trouble with her landlord. She jeopardizes every act of stability, every opportunity. She is as mean and sneaky as a snake (sorr...

A quick update on my daughter. The police took her under 911 due to death threats toward me and her schizophrenia breakdown. She is in the mental health hospital and heavily medicated. I went to see her and she is participating in groups! WOW, that is a miracle! I had a meeting with the social worker at th...

The writer shares that they and their sponsor have completely different political views and disagree on other issues yet are able to align on program especially about serenity, courage and wisdom. The author suggests if they had insisted on a sponsor with identical political views, they would ha...

Unexpected Disappointments____Acceptance.As life unfolds, we sometimes get unexpected disappointments that seem undeserved -- the car breaks down, a business deal goes sour, or a close friend betrays us. As alcoholics, most of us don't handle such things too well. "Why me, Lord?" we often resp...

Removing the VictimDont others see how much Im hurting? Cant they see I need help? Dont they care?The issue is not whether others see or care. The issue is whether we see and care about ourselves. Often, when we are pointing a finger at others, waiting for them to have compassion for us, its because we...

Today was my birthday. My parents remembered. So did my best friend. My kids didnt remember but theyre teenagers so I wasnt upset over that. AH didnt acknowledge it either. It didnt bother me at first as its a weekday and I assumed hed say or do something once he got home for the evening. But he didnt. And I...

Hi Everyone
I'm working through some feelings after confronting a guy in my meeting about inappropriate behavior towards me. I have set a boundary with him and been clear but he is attention seeking and continues to ignore my personal boundary. Another member confronted him recently with our dist...

Hello MIP! Today's reading in C2C is about one of the early lessons many of us learn in AlAnon - we do not need to tolerate unacceptable behavior. The author shares that they learned early in the program that they need not tolerate violence or abuse, and that they had choices they had not recognized be...

The ODAT reading for today, February 19 speaks about attending alanon meetings: learning how to listen to others and to our own inner voice so we can make our own decisions. The reading point out alanon members do not give advise nor tell anyone to leave a marriage even if the situation appears ho...

If you are completely happy with your spiritual situation and have a rock-solid faith in your religious \ spiritual situation of choice, or if you only read conference approved literature, this recommendation probably isn't for you - but if you're like I was (faith challenged, constantly questio...

Hi allI am in a full out codependency relapse. I know I need to get back to face to face meetings. It feels awkward to go back. My AH has a past history of being a mean, obnoxious drunk and got sober in 2010 when he worked a rigorous AA program with a sponsor, a 90/90, he even sponsored someone.He stopped goin...

We had a newbie...1st meeting...sitting and listening and when it was my time to share I welcomed her and in the process offered the groups support including the other women in the group. The reaction of one old timer was resistance, telling me to stop and not say the women of the group might be avail...

My husband is an alcoholic. He is currently in rehab for the second time. I really wanted to try alanon last time he was treatment and went to one of the two meetings in my town. I was the only person under the age of 70, so to say the least I was out of place and did not like the vibe. It was very monotone and I was...

Hi y'all, Alanon in my neck of the woods was much the same as Alanon everywhere. Some trends have come and gone. But the best and most workable have been retained. The group was my sponsor for the first 10 years. Somehow there was a conscience meeting about sponsors. [I was not there]. And the meet...

Good morning MIP and Happy Valentine's Day to one and all. Today's reading talks about confusion and that it can be a gift from God. As we look back on times when we felt desperately in need of a fast solution, we can often see that we really weren't ready to act. When we become fully ready, the informat...

I officially hit bottom. The crisis around me continues to overwhelm me. Last week, it was hell. I had to see the doctor and got bad news about my health condition. The doctor said I can not return to work. Not now, I may never be able to because of my health issue. I am being sent to another specialist for fo...

The reading for Monday, 2/18, says that the daily practice of the alanon program helps the author be more tolerant of others. They began recognizing that they had similar shortcomings so easily to see in others.The author said: If my perceptions of myself have been so inaccurate, how reliable can...

Today's ODAT reading points out that hearing an Al-Anon member expressing gratitude is encouraging to those who are still feeling hopeless. It goes on to say that when we begin to worry less, we can see more of the beauty of the world. It helps when we can deal only with the problems that are ours, and no...

Good morning Everyone- Todays reading is about our perception and how it may change over time and through our work in the program. The writer describes how having grown up in an alcoholic family contributed to seeing the negative in situations first. Even the slogans had a negative connotation: h...

I may be late to this 'party' but stumbled upon a ​site that posts daily Al-Anon 'things'... I was aw​ay from my computer, and did a quick search for Al​-Anon thought for the day, and got this: http://w​ww.todays-hope.com/todays-sharing.html I am one wh​o is always willing to use any/every tool I can fi​...

There are days when I really feel like Ive got this...Im going along, working the steps, making progress, and feeling proud of myself. Then...BAM! Something happens and all the old feelings come back. I become filled with anger, resentment, disappointment, frustration. I struggle to push those f...

I've posted here on and off for a few years, usually looking for ESH when the disease was particularly troublesome for my adult son - I like going to meetings, and I use the phone lists that I've acquired over the years, but sometimes collecting my thoughts here at the keyboard works pretty good and, LOL...

The high point of our year is about here. It's an AA function, but there's lots of Alanon participation at it. I've been attending it for 21 years and we [my wife and I] have been attending as a couple for 20 years. We'll be taking in as many of the Alanon meetings as we can. Some of the guys I sponsor have teen...

Who all will be attending the women's conference March 15-17? Has anyone been to Camp Canyon in Hinton, OK before? They say to bring linens, soap, towels and pillow but is there anything else that anyone would also recommend to bring? I can't find any pictures of the lodging anywhere online, just t...

In today's reading, the author reminds us that each AlAnon member, like each snowflake, is different and unique. Although we share a common problem that brings us together, each of us is an individual with individual gifts, challenges, and situations. The author shares that comparing themselve...

I just realized today that this month is my 10 year Al-Anon anniversary. What a journey it has been! Without Al-Anon, I don't know how I would have survived those first four years. And these last six have enabled me to look at challenges with a new lens. I stop and think before I react and try to not start, n...

Hello all, This is Wenyuan from South Georgia. A grateful member of Al-Anon, I have been checking out this message bulletin regularly and this is my first post. Since I started my recovery two months ago, I have been absorbing the gracious teachings of this wonderful fellowship through literatur...

The reading for Monday, 2/11, talks about the author setting three goals from Tradition Five. First, to work the steps for themself, next, to have compassion for alcoholics, and finally, to have compassion for those who come to alanon.The author said: I know that I was pulled from despair by the lo...

I will be out of town Monday and part of Tuesday so I am posting the Tuesday reading a day early -- forgive me. The ODAT reading for today, February12 speaks about the art of listening at a meeting and still not truly absorbing what is said. The reading suggests that we use the slogan; "think" as this s...

Hi y'all, I was born in 1951- at the height of the baby boom. Most of the males in my family, plus my grandmother had seen military service. I doubt of this had been the downfall of my family structure. I think that is had always been there. I was the oldest of 5 kids. I saw mum and dad, perhaps at their b...

Yesterday I participated in our Al-Anon district's all-day conference, and I was looking for a place to just sit and be quiet for a while. There was quiet meditation room, but when I went there it wasn't quiet enough for me. I looked at the workshop schedule and decided to go to the session that was host...

I don't know where to start, here. I haven't been here for awhile, but my local face2face meeting has closed and I can't get to meetings in another town. It's just too far to drive. My son is struggling. I think maybe with a bit of depression, or just being overwhelmed by being 18 and having to become an ad...

Good morning Everyone: I read the first line of todays reading and thought: this is about me! The writer describes two roles he/she played in the family growing up: caretaker and fixer. Some of the details are different, in that the writer often had to care for his/her mother, and that definitely was...

Keep It SimpleLife didn't promise to be wonderful. ---Teddy PendergrassLife doesn't promise us anything, except a chance. We have a chance to live any way we like. No matter how we choose to live, we'll have pain and we'll have joy. And we can learn from both.Because of our recovery program, we can hav...